Radiotopia Presents: We're Doing the Wiz
RadiotopiaRadiotopia Presents: We're Doing the Wiz
In 2004, a racial controversy erupted at a small, mostly white performing arts high school in rural Massachusetts. There were protests. TV news crews. A tense all-school assembly. And then, an announcement: the school would stage an iconic American musical that no one saw coming. This is the story of that production. Coming June 2025.
Radiotopia Presents premiers short multi-episode series in one podcast feed, unified by bold, inclusive storytelling pushing the boundaries of audio. Learn more at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.
In 2004, a racial controversy erupted at a small, mostly white performing arts high school in rural Massachusetts. There were protests. TV news crews. A tense all-school assembly. And then, an announcement: the school would stage an iconic American musical that no one saw coming. This is the story of that production. Coming June 2025.
Radiotopia Presents premiers short multi-episode series in one podcast feed, unified by bold, inclusive storytelling pushing the boundaries of audio. Learn more at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.
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Some exciting updates from Radiotopia.
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The newest series from Crooked Media.
An father's day episode from Radiotopia’s The Heart.
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An episode from our friends at Snap Judgment.
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Join us in celebrating this incredible achievement.
The troubling ways of going about making a podcast.
Introducing the newest series coming from Radiotopia Presents.
A Radiotopia producer takes on a new role.
The future of Radiotopia's Showcase.
Stories from, and behind, The Stoop.
The story behind the story of "The Great God of Depression".
A look back on one of the most mysterious series from Showcase.
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Introducing a new mystery thriller from PRX's Radiotopia.
A conversation with the creators of our first Showcase series, "Ways of Hearing," about the book inspired by it.
This summer, we're launching a new Showcase series plus two new Radiotopia shows!
Most musicians are paid much too little, or much too much — in part because no one is sure what music is really worth.
Powerful corporations are vying for our attention online by giving us more of what we already like. But what if we'd rather be surprised?
In the digital world, everything can be louder than everything else – but then is anything really audible?
Ways of Hearing takes a detour, as Damon talks to Hrishikesh Hirway, host of Song Exploder, about process, podcasting, and digital secrets in music.
Musician Damon Krukowski explores the nature of listening in our digital world. Episode #1 – TIME.
Host Damon Krukowski examines how digital technology is privatizing public space. Episode #2 – SPACE.
Host Damon Krukowski looks at how digital technology strips our voices down to what's "essential" — and what gets left out.
The Polybius Conspiracy tells the complex story of two men united by a decades-old urban legend about a mysterious video game.
An eccentric Portland-area tour guide continues to both perpetuate the legend of Polybius and profit in its shadow.
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Sometimes journalists pursue a mystery; other times, it pursues them.
New clues about the whereabouts of Rubin's missing partner shed light on secrets Bobby might prefer stay hidden.
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Fact, fabrication, history and hoax converge as the search for Marc comes full circle.
Coming next on Showcase: Secrets
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How is it to live with a secret that no one can know about?
What happens when a secret becomes larger than life?
What happens when you’re too ashamed to face the truth?
How is it to be the one who is kept in the dark?
How do you know if you ever truly know someone?
What happens when you face the secrets you live with?
Errthang is just that, everything that’s percolating in journalist/storyteller Al Letson’s brain, with help from his longtime pal and co-host, Willie Evans Jr.
Errthang is back and Al tells the stories of three excruciating heartbreaks that will leave you laughing.
Al recounts when he went to a protest to report the news, but became the news.
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Featuring Kiese Laymon’s memoir about growing up as a young black man in the South.
Errthang does radio drama: John Coffey waits to play his part in The Green Mile in the room of Magical Negroes.
Errthang does radio drama, part two: John Coffey doesn’t want to be Magical Negro anymore and the universe trembles in the aftershock of his decision.
Al and Willie wrap up the season right where they started – with each other.
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Writer William Styron and neurologist Alice Flaherty get blindsided by mental illness and, separately, decide to tell the world.
The unthinkable happens—a relapse. And William Styron finally finds a doctor he thinks can save him.
William Styron faces up to his greatest literary failure, while he and his doctor team up to conquer a baffling paralysis that could be medical or could be metaphor.
In the final episode of The Great God of Depression, William Styron clings to life in a triumph, of sorts, over depression. And Alice retreats from madness, for better or worse.
Co-producer Karen Brown sits down with the award-winning actor and television star Tony Shalhoub.
Stories from across the black diaspora, that we need to talk about. Coming November 16.
What percent of black makes you Black? We meet people whose DNA tests changed their lives – and not always in a good way.
Lean in for this one, as The Stoop heads to the lowcountry of South Carolina to learn more about the Gullah Geechee people.
The Stoop hits the streets with black radio producers to give “the nod” and report back from New York, Seattle and North Carolina.
The Stoop talks to interracial couples who don’t always see eye to eye when having tough conversations around race.
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A meeting in Moscow in 1982 could change the course of the Cold War.
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Spacebridges hit the big time as audiences in the US and USSR spar over conflicts of the day.
A new type of technological connection starts to link Americans and Soviets: the Internet. But it rouses the watchful eye of both governments.
Matthew explains the mysterious clicking noise you’ll hear a lot of in Blind Guy Travels.
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Why watch a movie if you can’t see the screen? Matthew and his friend Ben take in a Marx Brothers film and showcase the power of a good description.
Most dating apps rely heavily on user photos and other visual cues, so Matthew gathers a team of friends to help him craft the perfect dating profile and vet potential romantic interests.
Some teachers hang you upside-down to help you sing better. Others sit on you. In the lead-up to his senior recital, Matthew reflects on becoming an accomplished blind musician, through conversations with four of his music mentors who have helped along the way.
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Our guide tackles the world of memes.
Meet Afia, a 30-year-old Ghanaian-American who's got some s*** to straighten out.
Afia takes us to Accra, where a surprise awaits her.
Afia, her mom, and some uncomfortable questions.
Afia and her parents turn off the reality TV and turn on Accra's nightlife.
Afia celebrates Christmas with the aid of a curious present: meditation.
Afia is due to return to San Francisco in a few days. She wants to pay a visit to an old friend before she leaves.
Afia tells the truth.
Afia makes up her mind.
A special S***hole Country bonus episode from AfroQueer.
Gina's living her best life, until it gets interrupted by a painfully loud roar.
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Dru and Gina couldn’t leave, but now they can’t stay.
The story behind the story of "a hit dog will holler".
Introducing the newest series coming from Radiotopia Presents.
Bestselling author Jason Reynolds and his mom, Isabell, explore their shared history, how she raised him, and what they’re teaching each other.
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Hey, I’m Jason. But more importantly, meet my mother, Isabell.
Happy 76th Birthday, Ma!
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Jess used to think making documentaries was good for her subjects, and good for the world. But she’s not so sure anymore. With this series, she's trying out some new rules…
Jess and Ernesto try to tell his story. It’s dramatic and heart wrenching, but is that enough? What are Jess and Ernesto really doing this for?
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Cynthia finds her boyfriend Max’s journal. Hilarity ensues.
Nudity
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Jazmine holds space for Ms. Lorraine as she shares her story of substance abuse, inspiring a conversation about grace and self-acceptance. Meanwhile, back in the 70s, a younger Lorraine confesses her substance abuse to Ella, generating a difficult impasse between the two.
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As tensions escalate and hearts are both shattered and healed, our season one love story reaches its climax in the City of Love. Jazmine’s family surprises her with a graduation trip to Paris, but little do they know, she has a surprise of her own in store.
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts isn’t your average high school — think Fame in the cornfields.
Behind the Series: a hit dog will holler
April 27, 202222min 44sec
Behind the Series is a short-run series about the shows previously featured on this very podcast: Radiotopia Presents. This week, we’re talking with the creative team behind our latest series, a hit dog will holler. Today's episode is full of spoilers — so if you haven't heard the series yet, we suggest finishing all the episodes before listening to this conversation.
a hit dog will holler tells the story of two Black women activists who find their lives connected in surprising ways. Today, we sit down with three of the leading members of the team, writer Inda Craig-Galván, producer Gisele Regatão, and sound designer Sandra Lopez-Monsalve to reflect on the show’s highlights and creative challenges; from adapting a play into a podcast, creating a major character out of abstract sound elements, and the decisions that go into telling fictional stories about the real world.
Recommended texts from the hit dog will holler team:
- On the Yard by Etheridge Knight
- The works of Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, Jason Moran, Christina Gaillard
- Fire Shut Up in My Bones by Terrence Blanchard
- Land of the Free by Gabriel Guerrero
Behind the Series is hosted, written, and produced by Mark Pagán. Executive producers are Audrey Mardavich and Julie Shapiro and Yooree Losordo is our operations manager. Music from JD Samson, Blue Dot Sessions, and Christina Gaillard.
Behind the Series is a production of Radiotopia Presents, from PRX’s Radiotopia. Wanna learn more about your favorite shows, get audio recommendations, events updates, and podcast news? Sign up for the Radiotopia Citizen newsletter at radiotopia.fm/citizen.
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